Plans for new rail training facility in York

Rail passengers and residents are being given the chance to comment on plans by Network Rail for a new rail operating and training facility in York.

The Rail Operating Centre (ROC) is one of just 14 proposed centres across Britain.

The intention is that this site will eventually control all rail operations on the east coast from King’s Cross to the Scottish borders.

The workforce development centre will consolidate training services already provided to rail employees at a number of locations around the route into a single, purpose-built facility.

Phil Verster, route managing director for the London North Eastern route, said:

“These plans mark an exiting development for the railway and will help us to maintain York’s position as a proud rail city. The facilities are needed to help us to deliver a modern, efficient railway. They will allow us to retain jobs in the city as well as bringing future employment benefits which are vital for economic growth and prosperity.

“We also hope that the location of the facilities, on the edge of the York Central development site, could act as a catalyst for further investment in the area.”

Representatives from the Network Rail plus the architects and contractors will be available

Tuesday 28 February 11.00 – 19.00 York station, main ticket hall

Wednesday 29 February 11.00 – 19.00 St Paul’s Church, Holgate, York

Public feedback will be fed into the planning application to City of York Council in due course.

The ROC and training centre would be developed on disused land adjacent to York station.

The ROC would be the largest of its kind and will enable services such as signalling and traffic control to be centralised into a single unit.

The proposed workforce development centre (WDC) will deliver training for rail employees from Network Rail’s contractors and industry partners as well as for Network Rail employees.

It will give frontline maintenance and engineering staff a modern, purpose-built facility in which to learn new techniques and update existing skills.